Oct. 10 is designated by the World Health Organization as World Mental Health Day, intended to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world.
Ten facts to know about World Mental Health Day:
1. WHO estimates that anxiety and depressive disorders increased by 25 percent during the first year of the pandemic.
2. World Mental Health Day aims to draw attention to growing economic and social inequalities that deepened in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. WHO is working with partners to launch a new campaign that corresponds with this year's theme in honor of World Mental Health Day: Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority.
4. WHO released a 2022 mental health report featuring diverse stories of over 30 people living with mental health conditions.
5. World Mental Health Day aims to draw attention to Africa, where there is only one psychiatrist per 500,00 residents.
6. In 2022, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29 year olds.
7. In 2019, WHO launched a four year program to ensure quality and affordable mental health care in 12 priority countries.
8. The first World Mental Health Day was observed in 1992.
9. Past World Mental Health Day themes include mental health and aging, women and mental health and children in mental health.
10. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, shared this year's World Mental Health Day keynote.